ous motive, she could not venture to ask him to stay
behind.

The undertaking being determined on, the party rapidly made their
preparations. Having crossed the river where the horses were waiting
for them, they set out. Besides those they rode, each person had a
spare horse on which were carried a few light articles required for
camping.

Sybil and Effie stood on the ramparts facing the river, and bade them
adieu, as they wound their way up the hill on the opposite bank.

Effie felt happier than she had been for some time; and it was now her
part to console Sybil for Loraine's absence, assuring her that the party
would not return without bringing tidings of Allan.

Several of the hunters had been out for three days in search of buffalo.
They were expected back that night; but as they did not make their
appearance, the gates were closed as usual, and sentries posted to keep
watch at night.

Towards morning the man on duty in one of the towers, saw through the
gloom a horseman coming at full speed towards the fort.

"Vite, vite, open the gate; I am well-nigh done for," he shouted. "The
rest have been killed, and I have had a hard matter to escape from the
savages."

The sentry gave the alarm, the gates were opened, and Jacques Robe, one
of the hunters, rode in. He almost fell from his horse into the arms of
two of the men who had hastened out to meet him. An arrow was in his
side, and he was bleeding from other wounds.

The gates being closed, Captain Mackintosh directed the wounded man to
be carried to his house, and as soon as he had sent the garrison to the
ramparts to be ready should the enemy appear, he hastened to attend to
him.

The poor fellow's wounds though severe were not likely to prove mortal.
The arrow was extracted by sawing off the head, the other hurts being
bound up, the bullets having happily not lodged in his body. Captain
Mackintosh then left his patient to the care of his wife and went out to
make further arrangements for the defence. He now regretted having
allowed his sons and Loraine to go away, contrary to his better
judgment. They could not, however, as yet have got to any distance; and
as their assistance would be of the greatest value he resolved at once
to recall them. He hoped that they would be able to return in time to
assist in the defence of the fort, as probably the Blackfeet, knowing
that notice would be given of their approach by the escape of Jacques
Robe, would